Lewis Hamilton

[lufbra]

Isn't it great to see a Brit doing well in Formula 1 Racing!

This might show my ignorance, but here goes. I was watching a tv program on the Speed Chanel today, and they was talking about Lewis, one guy mentioned that he's the first ever "African American" (F1) racer to win a race. Now, I know that to say "African American" is being politically (and rightly so) correct, but Lewis isn't an American (at least as far as I know) but a Brit. Sooo, to be "politically correct" in the UK, what would he be called, would it be something like "African Brit" or what?

[degsy]

I'm not sure of the terms Dave. His family is from Greneda. He is mixed-race aswell, so I don't know where that comes into the equation.


I think in the UK he would mostly be classed as Black but also Black Carribean or Afro-Caribbean or even White/Black Carribean.


Depite his race:
If he keeps winning he'll be an English great.
If he loses then he'll become British.

Same as Andy Murray. Whilst he is doing well he is the great British tennis hope. When he loses he is Scottish :D

[agithegreat]

Lol great analogy, degs

And i have to say that yeh he is killing it off.

[dammit]

He was born in Stevenage. So apart from being a southern jessie I suppose he is as English as I am. Lewis Hamilton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Hamilton) :D

[oracle128]

And that's why African-American is a stupid term, bordering on racist. English-speaking people with black skin may not have been born in Africa (or have African heritage), and they may not have been raised in America. Also, there are white Africans.

The factually correct term would be "black Briton", and that's only because his skin colour was of significance in the context. If skin colour were irrelevant, he would just be a Briton, no need to single out the "black" part.

[Snurfen]

it is correct, and politically correct, to call him english.
He was born there.

As thrilled as I am to see his superb start to formula 1, i think he will make it as boring as it was when Schumacher was waltzing away with it all.

did enjoy seeing Alonso throw his teddy out of the pram - sour grapes or what!

[degsy]

Surely he's British. You a bit of a rebublican Snurfen :D
Just a joke. There's probably another forum for those topics

[lufbra]

The factually correct term would be "black Briton"

But that's not politically correct, at least it wouldn't be here in the States where the whole idea is to lose the word "black". As for the "white" folks, they're "caucasian" (sp).

[Snurfen]

Surely he's British. You a bit of a rebublican Snurfen :D
Just a joke. There's probably another forum for those topics

Nah Degs, I'm more inclined to Betty than President Gordon :p

[Snurfen]

Going back to the original thread:

My good mate Carl, Antiguan born colleague at the time echoed your sentiments. Just after Daly Thompson had won his gold at LA, he said "yeah, it's good old Daly, our British athlete", whereas had he come 4th it would have been "that bl*ck so and so Thompson".

It certainly made me sit up and think about it from a different perspective.

[oracle128]

But that's not politically correct, at least it wouldn't be here in the States where the whole idea is to lose the word "black". As for the "white" folks, they're "caucasian" (sp).That's the idea. The politically correct term is racist. If someone has black skin, then it's black. It's a colour. If you need to identify a person, the colour of their skin would be a good place to start. How do you describe someone when you don't know their nationality or country of origin?

[lufbra]

Errrr, non caucasian.

If you're saying that to call someone African American is racist, your resolve for this by identifying them by their colour is certainly no better. The whole idea of trying to be "politically correct" is to go away from using "colour".

Anyway, I wasn't intending to go into a debate about what words used are right or wrong, I only wanted to ask what kind of words the Brit blokes use that'd be politically correct. :)

[degsy]

non caucasian

So instead of saying he's black we say he's a non-white man? :D

[Snurfen]

"Racer of prodigous talent" or "that gap toothed youngster from Stevenage" or even "Alonso's determined team mate" would do.

To be honest, to describe Lewis' ethnic background, the common parlance most acceptable in the U.K. at the moment would probably be "of Afro-Carribean descent".

[oracle128]

Errrr, non caucasian.

If you're saying that to call someone African American is racist, your resolve for this by identifying them by their colour is certainly no better. The whole idea of trying to be "politically correct" is to go away from using "colour".

Anyway, I wasn't intending to go into a debate about what words used are right or wrong, I only wanted to ask what kind of words the Brit blokes use that'd be politically correct. :)No need to debate.

The answers you seek... (http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=your_stupid_ideas) (*adult*)

[Snurfen]

No need to debate.

Blimey charlie, even Nostradamus didn't have THAT predicted. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/snurfen/ef5597c2.gif

[oracle128]

Blimey charlie, even Nostradamus didn't have THAT predicted. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/snurfen/ef5597c2.gifOn only weekends and public holidays. Or when a random website already expresses my sentiments and I can't be bothered repeating them.